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Women who take maternity leave are less likely to be promoted in Australia's public service than those without children, according to government research that feminists said was further evidence that motherhood harms careers.
The Australian Public Service Commission, a government agency that monitors the workings of the nation's bureaucracy, revealed the research in a submission to an inquiry into paid maternity leave in Australia.
The commission found that 65 percent of women who returned to public service after taking maternity leave in 2001 had not been promoted by last year.
Of women who had not had children in that period, only 42 percent had been overlooked for promotion. "It is apparent that there is an effect on their career progression," the commission said of female bureaucrats who have children.
The government in February commissioned a 12-month inquiry into whether the economy can afford to expand the availability of paid maternity leave, which is relatively rare in Australia.
The public service is regarded as one of Australia's most family-friendly employers, offering new mothers 12 weeks of paid maternity leave, 12 months unpaid leave and flexible working hours.
The commission said it had not investigated the reasons behind the disparities between careers of mothers and childless women. But factors could include a lack of part-time positions in more senior roles and mothers with young families choosing not to pursue the added responsibilities of promotion.
Gwen Gray, an Australian National University expert on women's issues, said management clearly preferred to promote women who did not have family responsibilities.
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